This could be a very interesting afternoon. Surrounding the strongest draft class since 2003 is a deafening buzz of trade talk. Tyler Kennedy's already been dealt from the Pens to the Sharks for the 50th overall pick, with plenty of other names being bandied about. Multiple teams have multiple picks too, which makes the trade possibilities even juicier.

Comments

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:05:00 PM

Colorado on the clock at #1, with Nathan MacKinnon the most likely target.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:12:00 PM

With the first overall selection the Avalanche select, from the Halifax Mooseheads, Nathan MacKinnon. If they aren't bottling and selling the water in Cole Harbour yet, they better start.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:16:00 PM

Avalanche now have great depth at center with MacKinnon, Matt Duchesne, Ryan O'Reilly and Paul Stasny. Wouldn't be a shock to see one of the latter two dealt before the day is out.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:18:00 PM

With the second overall selection the Panthers select, from Tappara of the SM-Liiga, Aleksander Barkov.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:19:00 PM

Interesting... Florida bypasses Jones and Drouin to grab a big, physical center in Barkov who might still be a year or more away from the NHL.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:22:00 PM

With the third overall selection the Lightning select, from the Halifax Mooseheads, Jonathan Drouin.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:23:00 PM

Somewhere, Steven Stamkos is grinning ear to ear.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:26:00 PM

Kind of amazing that Jones has dropped into the Predators' laps like this, but it's a testament to how stacked this draft class is that a guy considered a sure-fire top-pair beast on the blue line falls to #4.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:27:00 PM

With the fourth overall selection the Predators select, from the Portland Winterhawks, Seth Jones.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:32:00 PM

The expected top four go with the first four picks, if not quite in the anticipated order. Now things get interesting.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:34:00 PM

With the fifth overall pick the Hurricanes don't trade down and select, from Brynas IF in the Elitserien, Elias Lindholm.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:35:00 PM

Bob MacKenzie has used the phrase "no weaknesses to his game" approximately 361 times so far today to describe all of the top five picks.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:36:00 PM

Lindholm projects to be a solid two-way forward, but don't expect to see him in the NHL until '14-'15 or so. This looks like a pure 'best player available' pick for Carolina.

By: Janet EaglesonOn: 6/30/2013 12:38:00 PM

Jones can actually fulfill his potential in the Preds' system -- he won't be rushed and left unsupported like he would have in other cities. Gift to both him and the Preds.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:42:00 PM

With the sixth overall selection the Flames select, from the Ottawa 67s, Sean Monahan.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:44:00 PM

Totally agree on Jones, Janet. He'll be in a system that emphasizes strong back end play, and get tutored by Weber. Best possible landing spot for him.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:45:00 PM

Monahan has a chance to jump right into the Calgary lineup, given how thin they are.

Wait, Edmonton didn't select a forward? What? Nurse may not have a big offensive upside but he gives the Oilers a potential shut-down defender on the blue line, something they desperately needed.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:53:00 PM

With the eighth overall selection the Sabres select, from TPS in the SM-Liiga, Rasmus Ristolainen.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:55:00 PM

Ristolainen is an offensively gifted d-man who might need to work on his game in his own end, but has a huge shot and could find himself on Buffalo's power play very quickly.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:58:00 PM

First big trade of the day doesn't involve any picks: Isles give up on Nino Niederreiter (where have we heard that before?) and send him to the Wild for Cal Clutterbuck.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 12:59:00 PM

Cory Schneider gets dealt to the Devils for the ninth pick. Wow.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:03:00 PM

Supposedly the Oilers offered the seventh pick, plus another pick, plus a prospect for Schneider. That's a pretty hefty price to pay by Vancouver just to avoid dealing him to a division rival.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:03:00 PM

With the ninth overall selection the Canucks select, from the London Knights, Bo Horvat.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:06:00 PM

Horvat projects to be a very solid two-way center, along the lines of Ryan O'Reilly or Patrice Bergeron. It's a good fit for the roster, but if they really turned down that package from Edmonton that's pretty incredible.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:11:00 PM

With the 10th overall pick the Stars select, from HC Dynamo Moscow of the KHL, Valeri Nichushkin.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:13:00 PM

Nichushkin has the usual rumored attitude problems that seem to accompany every Russian prospect, but if he meets his potential he could be a true top line power forward.

By: Janet EaglesonOn: 6/30/2013 1:15:00 PM

Gawd I love this day.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:16:00 PM

With the 11th overall pick the Flyers select, from the Rimouski Oceanic, Sam Morin.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:18:00 PM

Morin getting drafted by the Flyers was probably the biggest no-brainer of the day. He's a born Flyer, a nasty, physical blueliner who wouldn't have looked out of place on the Broad Street Bullies.

By: Janet EaglesonOn: 6/30/2013 1:19:00 PM

Yah but where is the offense going to come off that blue line. Streit is it.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:20:00 PM

I'm still trying to process the Schneider deal. Obviously he finally gives the Devils a replacement for Brodeur, but Brodeur's got one more year on his deal. Is Schneider stuck in another time share for this season?

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:20:00 PM

Oh, for sure. I didn't say Morin was the smartest pick for the Flyers... just predictable.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:22:00 PM

With the 12th overall pick the Coyotes select, from the London Knights, Max Domi.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:24:00 PM

Domi's about the same size as his dad but has the completely opposite style of play, and provides an immediate offensive upgrade for a roster of mostly muckers and grinders.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:24:00 PM

The 70th overall pick is also headed to Long Island as part of the Niederreiter deal.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:29:00 PM

With the 13th overall pick the Jets select, from the Prince Albert Raiders, Josh Morrissey.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:30:00 PM

Morrissey's got great offensive talent on the back end, but his size makes him a bit of a question mark. He'll probably need a couple of years before he's NHL-ready.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:37:00 PM

With the 14th overall pick the Blue Jackets select, from Djurgarden of the Swedish Allsvenska, Alexander Wennberg.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:39:00 PM

Wennberg feels like a Blues pick, which makes sense since new Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen just came over from St. Louis. Wennberg doesn't have an elite offensive ceiling, but he should be a solid two-way center.

By: Janet EaglesonOn: 6/30/2013 1:39:00 PM

Calgary and Edmonton were both in on Schneider, but the demands were off the charts for an in-division trade. One other team was in, too, but I don't know who. Ninth overall pick is a little light for Schneids who will star in Jersey in two seasons.

By: Janet EaglesonOn: 6/30/2013 1:40:00 PM

You're bang on with Wennberg being a Blues-like pick. Makes complete sense.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:41:00 PM

With the 15th overall pick the Islanders select, from the Brandon Wheat Kings, Ryan Pulock.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:44:00 PM

Apparently the Isles didn't draft enough defensemen last season after spending every single pick on their blue line... Pulock's got a nice offensive upside though, and in isolation it's a decent pick.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:46:00 PM

The story filtering out on the draft floor now is that Mike Gillis hadn't yet talked to Roberto Luongo to try and mend any fences before dealing Schneider. Just... wow.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:47:00 PM

With the 16th overall pick the Sabres select, from the London Knights, Nikita Zadorov.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:51:00 PM

Zadorov is a huge, tough, physical defenseman who might have a bit of offensive upside in his game. He and Ristolainen provide Buffalo with an instant revamp of their blue line, and you have to think (if they weren't before) that Tyler Myers' days as a Sabre are numbered.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:52:00 PM

Another trade. Wheeeee! Bettman's waiting until after Ottawa's pick to announce it.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:53:00 PM

With the 17th overall pick the Senators select, from the Edmonton Oil Kings, Curtis Lazar.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:54:00 PM

Lazar's a Swiss army knife of a forward, a guy who'll be able do a bit of everything. He won't be an elite fantasy producer, but he should be a solid two-way guy.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:56:00 PM

Detroit drops back two picks to #20 and pick up the 58th pick from the Sharks to do it. Nice get by the Wings, who have any number of players on the board they'd be happy to land. San Jose now on the clock.

By: mikeinlalalandOn: 6/30/2013 1:56:00 PM

Sharks going goalie?

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 1:58:00 PM

With the 18th overall pick the Sharks select, from the Everett Silvertips, Mirco Mueller.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:00:00 PM

Mueller draws consistent Roman Jossi comparisons, not surprising for a kind with good size and good skill who isn't quite top shelf in any facet of his game.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:04:00 PM

With the 19th overall pick the Blue Jackets select, from the Windsor Spitfires, Kirby Rychel.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:06:00 PM

Another son of a former goon, Warren Rychel's kid has far more scoring ability than his dad and while he'll probably be a grinder in the NHL, he could surprise.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:07:00 PM

With the 20th overall pick the Red Wings select, from the Val d'Or Foreurs, Anthony Mantha.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:10:00 PM

Mantha has great scoring skill and instincts but despite his size lacks a physical edge to his game, and it might take him a couple of years to polish his game up to NHL levels. He's in a patient organization though, and won't be rushed.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:13:00 PM

With the 21st overall pick the Maple Leafs select, from the Rimouski Oceanic, Frederik Gauthier.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:15:00 PM

Gauthier's got size, work ethic and intensity to be an excellent defensive center, but his offensive game needs some work. He's more likely to be a third line anchor who chips in the occasional key goal than a top-six forward.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:18:00 PM

With the 22nd overall pick the Flames select, from the Gatineau Olympiques, Emile Poirier.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:20:00 PM

Poirier's a bit of a surprise pick, a forward who can flat out fly but still needs to fill out and develop the skill set to make best use of his wheels at the NHL level.

By: Janet EaglesonOn: 6/30/2013 2:23:00 PM

Flames could have used Furcale.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:24:00 PM

With the 23rd overall pick the Capitals select, from Malmo of the Swedish Allsvenskan, Andre Burakowsky.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:27:00 PM

Burakowsky is a Swede with very good offensive skill who needs to work on his defense. Sounds like the prototypical Washington pick.

By: Janet EaglesonOn: 6/30/2013 2:29:00 PM

Shinkaruk is dropping ...

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:29:00 PM

Calgary still has one more first round pick, but for a team that's rebuilding essentially from ground zero there's a distinct lack of upside in that Poirier pick.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:30:00 PM

With the 24th overall pick the Canucks select, from the Medicine Hat Tigers, Hunter Shinkaruk.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:33:00 PM

The drop stops. Vancouver adds another forward, and Shinkaruk has a great killer instinct on offense that should serve him well once he rounds out his game.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:35:00 PM

With the 25th overall pick the Canadiens select, from the US development team, Mike McCarron.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:38:00 PM

McCarron's a huge, bruising forward who's maybe got a limited offensive upside, but the Habs needed a bodyguard for all their waterbug forwards and McCarron will be a great fit in that role.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:42:00 PM

With the 26th overall pick the Ducks select, from the Seattle Thunderbirds, Shea Theodore.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:45:00 PM

Theodore's an offensively-minded defenseman very good skills who'll need to work on the rest of his game to really make an impact in the NHL. Scouts were all over the map on him, but Anaheim's probably earned the benefit of the doubt given their draft history.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:47:00 PM

With Columbus taking two goalies in last year's draft they likely have no interest in Zach Fucale, so he'll still be there for Jay Feaster and the Flames.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:48:00 PM

With the 27th overall pick the Blue Jackets select, from HC Slovan Bratislava of the KHL, Marko Dano.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:51:00 PM

Dano is another Blues-esque pick for the Blue Jackets, a two-way forward with an edge to his game. He really elevated his play during this year's World Juniors to put him on the map and get him into the back of the first round.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:53:00 PM

With the 28th overall pick the Flames select, from the Regina Pats, Morgan Klimchuk.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:56:00 PM

And Calgary passes on the chance to address their gaping hole in net with Fucale... wow. Klimchuk's a smart two-way forward who still needs to work on his skating a bit to make full use of his skills. Not a bad pick per se, but still a bit of a head-scratcher.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:57:00 PM

With the 29th overall pick the Stars select, from the Guelph Storm, Jason Dickinson.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 2:59:00 PM

Dickinson could end up developing into a solid power forward, but he'll need to bulk up and find a physical element to his game to get there. He's a project, but a worthwhile risk to take at this point in the draft.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:02:00 PM

Jay Feaster says the Flames got three of the first 13 players on their draft board. No offense to Poirier and Klimchuk but, umm, yikes.

Hartman's a pure agitator, a little guy who gets in your face, plays hard and tough and scores goals at the perfect time to drive his opponents nuts. Oh, and he's a Chicago boy too. He'll be an instant fan favorite.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:13:00 PM

Other than Fucale, the top guys still left on the board heading into the second round include Adam Erne, Valentin Zykov, Robert Hagg, Jacob De La Rose, Chris Bigras, Nicolas Petan, JT Compher, Madison Bowey, Eric Comrie, Laurent Dauphin, Ian McCoshen, Tristan Jarry... in other words, there's still a ton of talent available.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:15:00 PM

McCoshen goes to the Panthers at 31. Good skating defenseman with a wingspan who could be a solid top-four guy.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:16:00 PM

Bigras goes to the Avalanche at 32. Another d-man with a solid two-way game.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:18:00 PM

Erne goes to the Lightning at 33. Big, smart forward who doesn't have any standout attribute, but no holes in his game either.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:20:00 PM

De La Rose goes to the Canadiens at 34. Big center with great defensive abilities, but he's still trying to find his offensive game. Montreal continues to focus on adding size to their organization.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:22:00 PM

Buffalo trades a defenseman, but it's not Myers. Andrej Sekera goes to Carolina for the 35th pick and Jamie McBain.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:25:00 PM

Sabres grab Compher at 35. Small, skilled forward with the drive necessary to succeed in the NHL.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:28:00 PM

Fucale finally goes to the Habs at 36, ironically with a pick they got from the Flames. First goalie to get taken, and a kid with a rep already for making the big stop when necessary.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:30:00 PM

Oilers deals 37 to the Kings for 57, 88 and 96.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:32:00 PM

Zykov is the pick for the Kings. Good, physical scorer and forechecker. Smart move by the Kings to jump up and take him, given that they didn't have a first round pick, as he easily could have gone in the 20s.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:35:00 PM

38 is Connor Hurley to the Sabres. Youngest player in the draft (if he were born one day later, he'd have been the oldest player in next year's draft) who has a lot of developing to do.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:36:00 PM

Devils trade 39 to the Coyotes for 42 and 73.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:37:00 PM

Dauphin is the Coyotes pick at 39. Still growing, but has the potential to be a very good two-way forward.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:40:00 PM

40 is Remy Elie. Under-the-radar guy stuck on the lower lines with a stacked London Knights team, but he's shown flashes of being a good, gritty, physical scorer.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:42:00 PM

Chicago trades Stanley Cup hero Dave Bolland to the Maple Leafs for 51, 117 and a 4th rounder in 2014.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:44:00 PM

Hagg goes to the Flyers at 41. Inconsistent, but could grow into the top-pair two-way defenseman Philly desperately needs.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:45:00 PM

Devils take Steve Santini at 42. No offense, but looks like a future shut-down defenseman.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:48:00 PM

Petan goes to the Jets at 43. Little (very little) guy with great offensive potential, so a high risk/high reward pick for Winnipeg.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:50:00 PM

Blue Jackets deal 44 to the Pens for 50 (San Jose's pick from the Kennedy deal earlier today) and 89.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:52:00 PM

No big surprise - Pens take Jarry at 44. Has all the tools to be a solid NHL goalie, just needs development time.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:53:00 PM

Nick Sorensen goes at 45 to the Ducks. Sweet-skating offensive forward who still needs some polish.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:56:00 PM

Gustav Olofsson gets taken by the Wild at 46. Big, stay-at-home defenseman.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:58:00 PM

Tom Vannelli goes to the Blues at 47. Defenseman with some skill, but needs to bulk up and smooth out some rough edges in his game.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 3:59:00 PM

Zach Nastasiuk goes the Red Wings at 48. Another versatile forward who can fill almost any role, and figures to be a solid third-liner in the NHL.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 4:01:00 PM

Gabryel Boudreau goes to the Sharks at 49. Smart, fast but undersized forward with a good compete level.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 4:02:00 PM

Dillon Heatherington goes to the Blue Jackets at 50. Big and still growing, potential shut-down defenseman.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 4:05:00 PM

Carl Dahlstrom goes to the Blackhawks at 51. Another physical defenseman with a big wingspan, but needs to work on his skating.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 4:08:00 PM

Sabres, with their FIFTH pick of the day, take Justin Bailey at 52. Pat Lafontaine coached him, which probably didn't hurt. He's a diamond in the rough right now, with good upside but a lot of growing and learning to do.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 4:09:00 PM

Capitals take Bowey at 53. Tough forward with a knack for key goals.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 4:10:00 PM

Stars take Phillipe Desrosiers, the third goalie of the day, at 54. Smart, intense netminder who should be a good one.

Oilers take Marc-Olivier Roy at 56. Not an elite offensive forward, but has the skills to be a solid complimentary player on a top-two line.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 4:17:00 PM

Oilers deal 57 to the Blues for 83, 94 and 113.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 4:19:00 PM

Blues take William Carrier at 57. Has the size and the skill to make an impact on the wing, but has had health issues and hasn't yet found a way to put it all together.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 4:21:00 PM

Red Wings take Tyler Bertuzzi (Todd's nephew) at 58. Another future mega-pest with a touch of offensive skill.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 4:24:00 PM

Jets take Eric Comrie (Mike and Paul's half-brother) at 59. He's a Comrie so he's had trouble staying healthy, but he's got the work ethic and tools to be an NHL goalie.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 4:25:00 PM

Jets finish up the second round at 60 with Linus Arnesson. Heady two-way defenseman who's still growing.

By: Erik SiegristOn: 6/30/2013 4:29:00 PM

The drafting went amazingly close to form, and there aren't really any players who have had a huge drop that were expected to go in the top 50 or so, so I'm cutting the recaps off here. Not sure who's won the draft so far, but the Flames look like the big losers based on what they needed, who they could have had and who they actually took.

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Billy Hamilton went for $28 in the NL LABR auction this past weekend. I discussed this with a fellow writer who participates in Tout Wars with me later this month and we discussed the problem with investing heavily into Hamilton.